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The “new earth” “Between the middle of the eighth and the beginning of the thirteenth centuries... the Arabic speaking peoples were the main bearers of the torch of culture and civilization throughout the world, the medium which ancient science and philosophy were recovered, supplemented and transmitted to make possible the renaissance of Western Europe.” (source: Arab Civilization to A.D. 1500 by M. Dunlop) Copernicus, Galileo Kepler and Newton 1473-1543 1564-1642 1571-1630 1642-1727 1517 “Reformation” 700 -1500 Islamic civilization 622 A.D. Islam dominates Industrial Revolution 1775… 1844... United States 475-1453 A.D. 1844…1863… 1912 Birth of the Baha’i Era Middle Ages (“Dark Ages”) 99% of all scientists are still living and 98% of all inventions have developed in the last 150 years New landmarks in social progress: equality, justice.. “. . .on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. . . And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice… I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the graciousfavor of Almighty God.” -Abraham Lincoln “The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind's ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System -- the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.” Baha’u’llah “Through the movement of Our Pen of gloryWe have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration.”Baha’u’llah “The Ancient Beauty hath consented to bebound with chainsthat mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner…that the whole world may attain unto true liberty.” Baha’u’llah, 1853, while in chains. Baha’u’llah declared His mission publicly in 1863. "A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth; and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive.” Baha’u’llah “We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.”Baha’u’llah 1863 Progress as an “unwitting response” 1300-1500 Renaissance
“Through the movement of Our Pen of gloryWe have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration.”(From the Pen of Baha’u’llah)
There isGood NewsandBad News(press right and left arrow keys to advance)
Today the world responds “unconsciously” “Unbeknownst to the great majority, His influence permeates all living beings. Indeed, no domain of life remains unaffected. In the burgeoning energy, the magnified perspectives, the heightened global consciousness; in the social and political turbulence, the fall of kingdoms, the emancipation of nations, the intermixture of cultures, the clamour for development; in the agitation over the extremes of wealth and poverty, the acute concern over the abuse of the environment, the leap of consciousness regarding the rights of women and racial equality; in the growing tendency towards ecumenism, the increasing call for a new world order; in the astounding advances in the realms of science, technology, literature and the arts -- in all this tumult, with its paradoxical manifestations of chaos and order, integration and disintegration, are the signs of His [Baha’u’llah’s] power as World Reformer, the proof of His claim as Divine Physician, the truth of His Word as the All-Knowing Counselor.” (UHJ)
He suffered that we might prosper “The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, Pages: 99-100)
“…yet unwittingly enforcing the general principles which He has enunciated…” “Suffice it to say that this consummation will, by its very nature, be a gradual process, and must, as Bahá'u'lláh has Himself anticipated, lead at first to the establishment of that Lesser Peace which the nations of the earth, as yet unconscious of His Revelation and yet unwittinglyenforcing the general principles which He has enunciated, will themselves establish. This momentous and historic step, involving the reconstruction of mankind, as the result of the universal recognition of its oneness and wholeness, will bring in its wake the spiritualization of the masses, consequent to the recognition of the character, and the acknowledgment of the claims, of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh -- the essential condition to that ultimate fusion of all races, creeds, classes, and nations which must signalize the emergence of His New World Order. Then will the coming of age of the entire human race be proclaimed and celebrated by all the peoples and nations of the earth.” (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 123)
“… A new heaven and a new earth…” “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2nd Peter 3:13 & Rev. of John 21:1) The earth will not be destroyed… “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind….For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.” (Isaiah 65:17 & 66:22)
A new spirit of life in a new world... “ . . in the generosity of God a new springtime dawned, the lights of God shone forth, the effulgent Sun of Reality returned and became manifest, the realm of thoughts and kingdom of hearts became exhilarated, a new spirit of life breathed into the body of the world and continuous advancement became apparent.” (Abdu'l-Baha, BWF - p. 256 ) “The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.” (Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 19 )
A new spirit of life in a new world... “The realm of thoughts and ideals is set in motion and blessed with new life. Minds are developed, hopes brighten, aspirations become spiritual, the virtues of the human world appear with freshened power of growth and the image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the springtime of the inner world. …the world is resuscitated, illumined and attains spirituality; religion is renewed and reorganized, hearts are turned to God, the summons of God is heard and life is again bestowed upon man. . . .” (Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 255)
“. . .called into being a new creation…” “Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.” (The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 2, p. 252 )
“… none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive…” “The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind's ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System -- the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.” "A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth; and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 136 & 197)
New Spirit released into the World “Baha'u'llah found the world in a ‘strange sleep’. But what a disturbance His coming has unloosed! The peoples of the earth had been separated, many parts of the human race socially and spiritually isolated. But the world of humanity today bears little resemblance to that which Baha'u'llah left a century ago. Unbeknownst to the great majority, His influence permeates all living beings . . . .” (Letters of The Universal House of Justice, 1997 Aug 13, Science and Religion)
Infused into the whole creation... "The Call of God," Abdu'l-Baha has written, "when raised, breathed a new life into the body of mankind, and infused a new spirit into the whole creation. It is for this reason that the world hath been moved to its depths, and the hearts and consciences of men been quickened. Erelong the evidences of this regeneration will be revealed, and the fast asleep will be awakened.” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 169)
House of Justice Baha’i World Center Haifa, Israel “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Holy Bible, Isaiah 2:2)
“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares. .” (Holy Bible, Isaiah 2:3-4)
". . . and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)
House of Justice Baha’i World Center Haifa, Israel “… the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…. and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in His paths…”
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2) “…let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God… and he will teach us His ways, and we will walk in his paths: for shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem...” (Isaiah 2:3-4) “To Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God… and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Rev. 3:12 & 21:2)
“To Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God… and I will write upon him My new name. . . . . .which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev. of St. John 3:12 & 2:17)
“Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist?This is the age of the Blessed Perfection and this is the time of the Greatest Name!” ( Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 351 )
“Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist? … This is the century of the Manifestation, the age of the Sun of the Horizons and the beautiful springtime of His Holiness the Eternal One!”( Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 351 )
All did “see” Christ during the “First” coming… “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Holy Bible, Luke 3:3-5 -- Luke refers to the Old Testament prophesy and claims that Jesus has fulfilled the Old verse in the “First” coming. Every eye DID see Him.)
“Subjective” faith – all are subjective to the whole “Thou hast written of a verse in the Gospels, asking if at the time of Christ all souls did hear His call. Know that faith is of two kinds. The first is objective faith that is expressed by the outer man, obedience of the limbs and senses. The other faith is subjective, and unconscious obedience to the will of God. There is no doubt that, in the day of a Manifestation such as Christ, all contingent beings possessed subjective faith and had unconscious obedience to His Holiness Christ. For all parts of the creational world are of one whole. Christ the Manifestor reflecting the divine Sun represented the whole. All the parts are subordinate and obedient to the whole.” (Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 364)
hidden from the sight of unwitting people “. . . Judge thou from this metaphor how the world of the Kingdom hath shone down, and how its laws have been made to work in this nether realm. Although the spirit is hidden from view, still its commandments shine out like rays of light upon the world of the human body. In the same way, although the Kingdom of heaven is hidden from the sight of this unwitting people, still, to him who seeth with the inner eye, it is plain as day.” (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 192)
“. . . all souls did hear His call.” “It is evident then that the manifestation of the Messiah was synonymous with universal mercy. His providence was universal and his teachings were for all. His lights were not restricted to a few. Every ‘Christ’ came to the world of mankind.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 106 also found on page 444 of PUP)
Potencies…are.. insensibly shaping "These same potencies, apart from, yet collateral with these efforts and accomplishments, are, on the other hand, insensibly shaping, under the impact of the world political and economic forces, the destiny of that nation, and are influencing the lives and actions of both its government and its people." (S.E., The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 86)
New Cycle of Human Power “The banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the knowledge that this is anew day. This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity. The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.” (Abdu'l-Baha in London, 1912, p. 19 )
Justice and world-wide regeneration “Justice is, in this day, bewailing its plight, and Equity groaneth beneath the yoke of oppression. The thick clouds of tyranny have darkened the face of the earth, and enveloped its peoples. Through the movement of Our Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration. This is the most great, the most joyful tidings imparted by the Pen of this wronged One to mankind.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 92)
Death pangs.... Birth pangs... “Deep as is the gloom that already encircles the world, the afflictive ordeals which that world is to suffer are still in preparation, nor can their blackness be as yet imagined. We stand on the threshold of an age whose convulsions proclaim alike the death-pangs of the old order and the birth-pangs of the new. Through the generating influence of the Faith announced by Baha'u'llah this New World Order may be said to have been conceived. We can, at the present moment, experience its stirrings in the womb of a travailing age -- an age waiting for the appointed hour at which it can cast its burden and yield its fairest fruit.” (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 169 )
unwittinglyand irresistibly advancing ". . . through experiment and trial, slowly, painfully, unwittingly and irresistibly advancing towards the goal destined for it by both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.... Indeed if we would read aright the signs of the times, and appraise correctly the significances of contemporaneous events that are impelling forward both the American Bahá'í Community and the nation of which it forms a part on the road leading them to their ultimate destiny, we cannot fail to perceive the workings of two simultaneous processes, generated as far back as the concluding years of the Heroic Age of our Faith, each clearly defined, each distinctly separate, yet closely related and destined to culminate, in the fullness of time, in a single glorious consummation." (Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 31-32)
Death pangs.... Birth pangs... "Soon,"Baha'u'llah Himself has prophesied [in the middle 1800s], "will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead." And again: "By Myself! The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new Order in its stead." (Shoghi Effendi, in The Promised Day is Come, Pages: 17-18) [emphasis and brackets added]
We are witnessing a dual phenomena "We are indeed living in an age which, if we would correctly appraise it, should be regarded as one which is witnessing a dual phenomenon[a "titanic upheaval"]. The first signalizes the death pangs of an order, effete and godless, that has stubbornly refused, despite the signs and portents of a century-old Revelation, to attune its processes to the precepts and ideals which that Heaven-sent Faith proffered it. The second proclaims the birth pangs of an Order, divine and redemptive, that will inevitably supplant the former, and within Whose administrative structure an embryonic civilization, incomparable and world-embracing, is imperceptibly maturing. . .” (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 17) [continued next slide]
“Soon will the present day order be rolled up…” “. . . The one is being rolled up, and is crashing in oppression, bloodshed, and ruin. The other opens up vistas of a justice, a unity, a peace, a culture, such as no age has ever seen. The former has spent its force, demonstrated its falsity and barrenness, lost irretrievably its opportunity, and is hurrying to its doom. The latter, virile and unconquerable, is plucking asunder its chains, and is vindicating its title to be the one refuge within which a sore-tried humanity, purged from its dross, can attain its destiny.” [emphasis mine] (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 17)
Prevailing order is lamentably defective “How long will humanity persist in its waywardness? How long will injustice continue? How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord agitate the face of society?... The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every direction, and the strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth, may grant that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them, and aid them to accomplish that which beseemeth their station.” “. . . Beseech ye the one true God to grant that all men may be graciously assisted to fulfil that which is acceptable in Our sight. Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, page 216 and page 7)
The Judgement of God "The time for the destruction of the world and its people," Baha'u'llah's prophetic pen has proclaimed, "hath arrived.” "The promised day is come, the day when tormenting trials will have surged above your heads, and beneath your feet, saying: 'Taste ye what your hands have wrought!’”(Baha’u’llah quoted in The Promised Day is Come) “Humanity... watches this great and mighty wind of God invading the remotest and fairest regions of the earth, rocking its foundations, deranging its equilibrium, sundering its nations, disrupting the homes of its peoples, wasting its cities, driving into exile its kings, pulling down its bulwarks, uprooting its institutions, dimming its light, and harrowing up the souls of its inhabitants.”Shoghi Effendi
“Then and only then...” “The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly.Its perversity will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then, and only then, will the Divine Standard be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise warble its melody.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 118)
The Promised One of all Religions " . . the Promised One of all the world's peoples hath now been made manifest. For each and every people, and every religion, await a Promised One, and Baha'u'llah is that One Who is awaited by all; and therefore the Cause of Baha'u'llah will bring about the oneness of mankind . . .” (Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha, Page: 101)
Mysterious process… “The latter part of Advent of Divine Justice has some of the most mysterious things the Guardian has ever written. There is a place towards the end of Advent of Divine Justicewhere Shoghi Effendi refers to America and he refers to the American nation being moved by forces it can neither comprehend nor control, to fulfil its destiny. Ok, take your [materialist politician] and say to him: ‘you know, your country is being moved by forces it can neither comprehend nor control.’ He’s not going to be very happy. He’s not going to be particularly pleased about this. Yet this is what the Guardian says. What does it mean? What is the spiritual effect of ‘Abdu’l-Baha having come to the North American continent? Of Baha’u’llah having addressed the rulers of America in the Aqdas? Why is it that this nation of all is chosen for the role that he describes in Advent of Divine Justice?” (Talk given by Dr. Peter Khan, in Sydney -- 14 August 2002)
